WAG Director To Take Part in Downtown Sleepout

Dr. Stephen Borys, Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, is one of 30 business leaders who will be participating in the Downtown BIZ’s CEO for Downtown Sleepout on September 29. It is hoped the sleepout will raise $100,000. Monies raised will go to the BIZ’s Change for the Better project which supports homeless employment programs such as Siloam Mission’s Mission: Off the Streets initiative.

The event begins with breakfast in front of 201 Portage Avenue, followed by entertainment and lunch which, it is hoped, will encourage the public to donate. That night, Borys and his fellow leaders will wrap themselves up in their sleeping bags until morning.

“This is a very important cause and I was honoured to be asked to participate,” says Borys. “It’s estimated that there are between 1,500 and 2,000 homeless people in Winnipeg, we see them everywhere. It’s important that those of us who are fortunate enough to have warm homes to return to each night do what we can to alleviate this situation. Rather than just doling out money, the Change for the Better program will help these people to find employment which will, in turn, help them to find homes. It’s great to see the leadership community in Winnipeg step up and do something to help.”